Last week may have drawn to a close, but the march of Clevo news continues. On the heels of Maingear announcing an 11-inch gaming notebook, Origin PC is throwing its own ultraportable into the ring: the EON 11-S. Though this is a new model for the company (the smallest laptop it's ever sold, in fact), it's not quite fresh to us: this is the same exact Clevo-made notebook Maingear unveiled two days ago, only re-badged under Origin PC's brand and available in a wider range of colors. As far as performance goes, then, that means you can expect Ivy Bridge processors, a 2GB NVIDIA GT 650M GPU, Optimus graphics-switching technology and a battery rated for 6.5 hours of runtime. In Origin PC's case, the laptop starts at $999 (compared with $1,099 for Maingear), though you'll have to head over to Origin's site for a breakdown of what specs you'll be getting at that lower price. (Spoiler alert: adding an Ivy Bridge CPU instantly bumps the price to $1,294.)Gallery-154287

Gamers who'd been eyeing up an Alienware M11x may have been rightly irked when the 11-inch form factor was yanked off shelves. Fortunately, Maingear is stepping in with a laptop that slots an Ivy Bridge CPU into equally compact hardware. The Pulse 11 has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, supports up to 16GB of dual-channel DDR3 RAM while packing HDMI-out 1.4a, USB 3.0 and THX TruStudio Pro sound. Graphics-wise, there's an NVIDIA GeForce GT650M with 2GB RAM for fragging your enemies, and an Intel GMA HD GPU for fragging your spreadsheets. The hardware will begin shipping on June 3rd, with prices starting from $1,099 for a Core i5, 8GB RAM and a 320GB HDD.

We've already seen spec sheets suggesting that ASUS's 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch Zenbooks are being fattened up for a major update, but now Engadget Chinese has glimpsed the new devices in their cold aluminum flesh. Tentatively called Zenbook Primes, or the UX21A and UX31A respectively, they both have 1920 x 1080 IPS panels with a matte finish and excellent viewing angles (please, ignore the dumb 1024 x 768 screen-saver in the pic, it doesn't do it justice). Judging from the fact that ASUS refused to let us go hands-on in case we identify the internals, we can be pretty confident that these beauties are running on next-gen ULV Ivy Bridge processors, which -- unlike their more powerful brethren -- have yet to be formally announced. We asked if there'd be room for discrete graphics, such as one of NVIDIA's new Kepler mobile GPUs for Ultrabooks, and were told that "anything is possible." Responses were equally vague when it came to global availability, because apparently the devices are awaiting clearance from Intel. All we know is that they should be out in Taiwan in June, likely with similar price tags to their predecessors.

]]>
Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:07:00 -040021|20223591http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/apple-refreshes-its-education-bundles-replaces-white-macbook-wi/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/apple-refreshes-its-education-bundles-replaces-white-macbook-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/apple-refreshes-its-education-bundles-replaces-white-macbook-wi/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsIt was back in July that Apple quit selling the white MacBook to the general public, and recently the remaining stock -- only available through its education webstore -- met a similar fate. Although the folks at Cupertino quietly removed the polycarbonate machine from the store, it's now offering up 5-pack bundles of both the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air in its place. Notably, an education-only variant of the 13-inch model is available, priced at $4,995 for the bundle ($999 a piece), which rocks the baseline configuration of the 11-incher (Core i5, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD). As MacRumors points out, the cheapest 13-inch Air available to the public starts at $1,200, although it does have beefier specs, so it's nothing to be terribly upset over. You'll find more details at the links below.

Despite Samsung's best efforts, perhaps you haven't found the perfect balance of pocketable size and capacious screen? Sure, it sounds pretty counterintuitive, but QP Optoelectronics may have exactly what you're looking for with the LightPad, a folio-styled peripheral that combines a keyboard with an 11-inch rear projection screen. The built-in pico projector lights up the screen with a resolution of 854 x 480 in the first generation model, with a future model promising the same display size at a high-definition 1280 x 720 resolution. The built-in projector also flips around to create a 60-inch display, and will play nice with any smartphone that has an available MHL or HDMI port. While that three-part footprint doesn't make it a particularly viable option for airplane viewing, office types may appreciate the two different form factors. We'll be staking a claim to a hands-on when it makes its debut next month at CES 2012. Until then, satisfy yourself with a brief video demo after the break.

]]>
Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:22:00 -050021|20130702http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
When you head to Apple's online store to configure your MacBook Air, you'll find options to increase processor speed or SSD capacity -- depending on the model you select, of course. There's no mention of flash drive speed, however, though it's now clear that not all SSDs are created equal at Apple -- not only when it comes to capacity, but also performance. Jonathan over at TLD discovered a fairly significant discrepancy when benchmarking both MacBook Air models over the weekend. The 128GB Samsung SSD in his 11-inch Air was able to achieve 246 MB/s write and 264 MB/s read speeds. When he switched to the 13-inch model, however, speeds dropped to 156 MB/s and 208 MB/s, respectively, using that notebook's 128GB Toshiba SSD. We compared speeds on two generations of 13-inch models, and confirmed Jonathan's findings. During our tests, the 256GB Samsung drive in our older model achieved 214 MB/s write and 251 MB/s read speeds, while the 128GB Toshiba drive in the new MacBook Air scored 184 MB/s and 203 MB/s during write and read tests, respectively. Overall, you're not likely to notice a significant difference during normal usage, though it's certainly an interesting find, nonetheless.

]]>
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:17:00 -040021|19999645http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsThere comes a time when that giant, corporate-issued laptop stops fitting into your lifestyle. When dragging around a Kensington roller case just won't do. When you start to hear the siren lilt of something thinner, lighter, and maybe a bit more alluring. For years the MacBook Air has been that svelte temptress hollering your name, but it's always been a bit too slow -- all show and no go. It didn't have the power and the longevity to make it a serious contender for your serious affections.

No more. With its latest refresh, Apple has taken what was once a manilla-clad curiosity and turned it into a legitimate machine, not just a sultry looker. Good thing, too, because the death of the plastic-clad MacBook means the Air is now Apple's entry-level portable. Weary traveler looking for a laptop that will lighten your load and, it must be said, your wallet too? This might just be it.Gallery-129057

]]>
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -040021|19999437http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
They say Apple updates its products like clockwork, releasing something new at the same time in the same place every year. Not so with MacBook Airs anyway. The outfit's gone and freshened up its 13-inch and 11-inch ultraportables -- the second such update in nine months. Although the industrial design hasn't changed much since the last generation, both models step up to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, Thunderbolt ports, backlit keyboards, and, of course, OS X Lion.

The 11.6-inch flavor starts at $999 with 64GB of solid-state storage, 2GB of memory and a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. The higher-end of the two configurations costs $1,199, with the extra two hundred dollars doubling your RAM and storage. The 13-inch Air, meanwhile, starts at $1,299, with a 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and a 1.7GHz Core i5 CPU. Step up to the $1,599 model and you'll get a 256GB SSD instead. Regardless, you're looking at Intel HD 3000 graphics across the board, along with FaceTime webcams, two USB ports (plus an SD slot on the 13-inch version), 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The two differ when it comes to resolution and battery life: the 11-incher has a 1366 x 768 panel and is rated for up to five hours of battery life, whereas the 13-inch model has a 1440 x 900 screen and promises up to seven hours of juice. As for that 1.8GHz Core i7 CPU, it'll set you back an extra $100 on the 13-inch version, and $150 for the 11-inch version. Whichever size you choose, it's only an option for the higher-end configuration. Hit the source link to peep the specs and buy one, if you're so inclined.
Gallery-128755

]]>
Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:41:00 -040021|19995000http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/samsung-refreshes-13-inch-series-9-laptop-adds-two-11-inchers-t/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/samsung-refreshes-13-inch-series-9-laptop-adds-two-11-inchers-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/samsung-refreshes-13-inch-series-9-laptop-adds-two-11-inchers-t/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
It's only been three months since we drooled over the thin, powerful, expertly built -- and expensive! -- Samsung Series 9. Of course, that's dog years in the world of consumer electronics -- the company has just refreshed its premium 13-incher, adding a Core i7 processor option, a 256GB SSD (up from 128GB), and 6GB of RAM to the highest-end model. While Samsung was at it, it added two 11-inch models, the lower-end of which which starts with a Core i3 processor, 64GB SSD, and 2GB of RAM. All told, you'll find two 11-inchers and three 13-inch models, ranging in price from $1,049 to $2,049, leaving the one we reviewed three months ago $300 cheaper. Full PR and a list of basic specs after the break.

]]>
Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:31:00 -040021|19981796http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/dnp-samsungs-ultra-thin-11-6-inch-9-series-laptop-appears-in-it/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/dnp-samsungs-ultra-thin-11-6-inch-9-series-laptop-appears-in-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/dnp-samsungs-ultra-thin-11-6-inch-9-series-laptop-appears-in-it/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We told you it was coming, and now it's here: the 11.6-inch little brother to Samsung's ultrathin 9 Series laptop. As we expected, the 900X1A sports a Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM, and 1366 x 768 resolution, but instead of the anticipated 64GB of memory, it's rocking the same 128GB SSD as its older sibling. We've yet to hear when the new 9 Series will make it across the pond, but it should be available in Europe starting April 1st for €1,200 -- and, if you like 'em small and skinny, you can check out a video of the 900X1A after the break.

]]>
Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:15:00 -040021|19887116http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/07/macbook-air-has-its-fully-upgraded-11-inch-version-reviewed/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/07/macbook-air-has-its-fully-upgraded-11-inch-version-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/07/macbook-air-has-its-fully-upgraded-11-inch-version-reviewed/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Apple's new MacBook Airs aren't exactly performance kings -- if anything, they're performance laggards given the finely aged internals they have -- but there is some room for upgrading them should you wish for a little extra oomph. AnandTech cornered the maxed-out 11.6-inch variant, with a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and 128GB of flash storage on board, and put it through the usual benchmark routine. In spite of costing a much meatier $1,399 than the $999 default config, the upgraded Air was deemed to be a worthwhile improvement as it delivered an average of 15 percent better performance at the cost of no more than seven percent of battery endurance. To our eyes, the biggest driver for these improved results was the jump from 2GB to 4GB of RAM, something all of us can bear in mind when contemplating our next laptop purchase.

]]>
Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:54:00 -050021|19706400http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-battery-shown-to-last-two-hours-longer-when-browsing/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-battery-shown-to-last-two-hours-longer-when-browsing/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-battery-shown-to-last-two-hours-longer-when-browsing/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Let's be honest, Apple's claim that it neglected to preload Flash on the new MacBook Airs so that users themselves could download and install the latest (and safest) version was a bit of a red herring. Behind that thin veil of corporate courtesy, we're now seeing a pretty potent cause for Apple's dumping of Adobe's wares. Ars Technica's review of the 11-inch Air discovered that the machine could crank its way through six hours of web browsing when Flash was nowhere near it, but only four hours with Flash installed and giving it "the full web experience." The primary culprit was Adobe's penchant for using CPU cycles to display animated ads, which were typically replaced by static imagery in the absence of the requisite software. So yeah, it's not a surprise that a "richer" web would require more resources, but it doesn't speak well for Flash's efficiency to find a laptop loses a third of its longevity when running it.

]]>
Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:22:00 -040021|19703892http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/alienware-m11x-hands-on/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/alienware-m11x-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/alienware-m11x-hands-on/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
So here it is, the M11x -- probably the closest you'll probably ever see Alienware get to a netbook, at least in size. You might actually be able to pull off some extended gaming sessions on the 11-inch screen -- it's certainly a crisp enough screen, from the time we spent with it -- but the real selling point here is plugging it up to an external monitor for your FPS / RTS / MMO needs and using it solo for productivity purposes. Of course it's a good bit heavier than other portables of the same size, but what do you expect with all it's trying to pack in? Gallery-82002

]]>
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:14:00 -050021|19307413http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/asus-11-6-inch-eee-pc-1101ha-comes-alive-at-computex/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/asus-11-6-inch-eee-pc-1101ha-comes-alive-at-computex/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/asus-11-6-inch-eee-pc-1101ha-comes-alive-at-computex/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Remember that 11.6-inch Eee PC that was rumored to surface soon? Yeah, it's sitting in some nondescript corner of ASUS' booth at Computex. The show doesn't actually kick off in earnest until tomorrow, but we were able to grab the shot you see above in the meanwhile. So far, we know that the Eee PC 1101HA will feature a larger-than-usual 11.6-inch LCD, a 1,366 x 768 resolution, a battery good for "up to 11 hours" (color us skeptical), Intel's Atom Z520 / Z530 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, three USB 2.0 sockets, a multicard reader and a case that definitely takes a note from the recently launched Seashell line. Oddly, we were led to believe that two different six-cell batteries could be offered (2220mAh and 2800mAh), presumably for different markets. At any rate, we'll be swooping in tomorrow to snag a few more shots, so be sure to stick around -- ya heard?

]]>
Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:39:00 -040021|19053419http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/28/asus-rumored-to-be-spinning-off-eee-brand-11-inch-eee-pc-coming/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/28/asus-rumored-to-be-spinning-off-eee-brand-11-inch-eee-pc-coming/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/28/asus-rumored-to-be-spinning-off-eee-brand-11-inch-eee-pc-coming/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsInformation doesn't get much more twisted that this so you'd best tread lightly with it. We've got a DigiTimes rumor whose message appears modified in translation. Engadget Chinese tells us that the original DigiTimes article (in Chinese) states that Asus is planning an Eee PC "sub-corporation." In other words, an ASUS spin-off that would include more than just low-cost ultra-portables. The rumor is attributed to DigiTimes' proven ASUS sources. However, DigiTimes' own English translation simply calls the move an Eee "sub-brand" which was already obvious with ASUS' announced plans for additional Eee branded products including the E-DT desktop, E-TV television, and 19- to 21-inch E-Monitor all-in-one said to be due in Q3. DigiTimes' sources also claim that ASUS will slap a 1001 model number on its 10.6-inch Eee PC and then -- perhaps supporting the spin-off claim -- says that there will be a premium 11-inch Eee PC before the end of the year as well. Originally, Jerry Shen, ASUS CEO, said the Eee PC would never exceed 10-inches so that it wouldn't cut into ASUS' laptop offerings. A spinoff would presumably give the Eee brand more freedom to compete.